((((MilkToast)))) I wasn't trying to make you feel bad hun...I just wanted to point out that some folks are so taken in with these "tug at your heart strings* emails and might feel that the world could learn a thing or two if they could just walk a mile in the shoes of the person in a situation that we could hardly relate to if it weren't happening to us or ours. Geezzzzzzzz....Even I've gotta reread that one myself...lol!

*shakes head vigorously*

TY Lil...I'm sorta partial to that one too! It was a once in a lifetime thing for me and I am still in awe over the beauty of the moment!

Boilergirl1...Please let me explain, for those who weren't here when it happened. I was on the outs with Pixies Place...for reasons that aren't relevant now...and a hurricane was coming mighty close to my little neck of the woods in Pa. It was over a year now...and so I can't remember the name of her now (though I think I have it on the tip of my tongue...but regardless...).

Mr Lixy and I were outside on this unusally balmy, but windy evening...trying to batten down the hatches and get ready for Mother Nature's wrath! The moisture in the air was never like this. I knew we were in for some shit. I saw a streak before me and thought it was a leaf blowing from our tree. I looked down on the sidewalk in front of me and there...fluttering and flip flopping...was this beautiful butterfly. Without hesitation I leaned and extended my hand. When I realized what I was doing...I thought, "This ain't gonna happen. She'll fly away and get lost in the wind." Suprisingly, she crawled onto my hand and fluttered as if to dry her wings. You ask why I call her she? It's just something I felt...but will never know! The sun was setting and our back light was on so we could see to remove anything that might become projectile. I raised my hand, butterfly in tow, to the spotlight...and she began to fluff herself as if the sun was drying her wings. I let her crawl all over my hand and wrist and up and down my arms, as she fluffed and preened to get ready to fly away again. After something like 5 minutes I told Mr. Lixy, "She isn't flying away...go get the camera"!!!! He started taking pics (I have several more of this moment in time) and with each flash, she would fluff and preen some more. It was the light she craved, and she had sensed the storm coming and wanted to dry her wings for survival. Finally, after about 15 minutes of me in awe and her letting me into her world, I had to let her go. I raised her to the light once more...then brought her down to my face for a "snuggle" and said my goodbyes. All the while, Mr. Lixy took pics. Seems she had taken a liking to me and I was her "port in a storm" and she wasn't venturing out from her safety net. I walked over to my big maple tree and, without touching her so as not to dust off her natural powder, placed her on a branch to set her free. I had to go back to our mission of making our yard safe from the winds...but I fretted, just thinking of her...out there...alone...against the winds...without me to protect her!

I've never before...and never since...been able to get so close to a butterfly. It was our one chance in a million in time...and I'll treasure it forever!

boilergirl1? All is not lost on frivolities. What I think you were saying in this thread is that we should look deeper into oursleves to be open enough to know and appreciate the beauty of the good around us. At least I think I got the message!

P.S. This moment...captured on film...was my reason and excuse to come back to my Pixie family! I felt a need to share...but I needed a reason to drop in again. I was accepted with open arms...and haven't left again since!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~